Gleaning & Culling

What Is Food Not Bombs?

Food Not Bombs is a global movement created by a group of anti-nuclear activists in the 1980's, that directly protests the effects of war and poverty through preventing needless food waste by saving viable food from landfills, and distributing that food to people in need.

Some of us in Columbia work to get raw veggies to a central location downtown ("The Corner" at 9th & Broadway), and some of us fix large pots of soup, stew and sandwiches to share with our neighbors at different locations around town. 

There are roughly 1,000 FNB chapters globally, many larger towns have more than one chapter feeding needy folks, and at least one chapter is located on every habitable continent around the world. 

FNB COMO is located near the geographical center of the United States, in the academic town of Columbia, Missouri. 

We serve all, no questions asked.

The Three Guiding Principles of Food Not Bombs 

First, the food is vegan and/or vegetarian, and free to everyone without restriction. 

Secondly, Food Not Bombs has no leaders or headquarters, and every chapter is autonomous. 

Third, Food Not Bombs is dedicated to nonviolent, direct action and works for nonviolent social change.

How Food Not Bombs Works

Food Not Bombs has partnerships with local grocery stores, food pantries, our local award winning farmers market, private gardeners and health food stores, to donate produce, vitamins and other items that are still quite tasty and have full nutrition, but perhaps have a bruise or two, or are close to the expiration date and cannot be sold at top value anymore. 

Where Volunteers Are Needed:
Shared Gleanings & The Cull

FNB Volunteers bring a willing heart and car to the Food Partner they collect from.  The things shared with us from family gardens and farms fall under the civic heading of Shared Gleanings (from your own garden or acreage) which must be healthy fruit or vegetables fit for the table. 

What we get, we further cull for bruises and other damage, and curate supplements from the ones available. 

Here are our Major Areas of Continual Volunteer Need & Schedule of our Saturdays

1) Our first pickup is at the Columbia Farmer's Market, close to closing around 11:30am. We have a list of vendors who donate their leftover vegetables to FNB weekly. 

2) We pick up food from both Clovers Natural Foods Stores around 2-3pm, on East Broadway and Chapel Hill. 

Note: Vegetables are provided that sometimes must be curated to remove wilted or spoiled leaves, or in the supplement area a leaking/swollen can or broken bottle may need to be discarded. You will be taken on a tour of the entire process by a seasoned Gleaner.

You'll be the one curating the donated food to look its best so it gets on the inside of hungry bellies. 

People won't take food they could otherwise eat if it looks ooky on the outside. Cleaning up the culls is one of the most important pieces of the job and it doesn't take long.

3) At 4pm,  bring your donations to the corner of 9th & Broadway in Columbia, right in front of Teller's Restaurant. People will get the food out of your car if you can't park due to traffic. Park nearby if you like, and come join the party!

4) At 5-5:30pm, we close up shop. We really need help cleaning up at The Corner (10 minutes or so) and repacking any leftovers. 

FNB Volunteers  then take what's left over to various organizations that serve the needy either Saturday night, or through the week. 

We donate our leftovers to True North, Rainbow House, Phoenix Programs, City of Refuge, the Boys and Girls Club and the Salvation Army, to name a few.

Please hit our quick Contact Form to volunteer. 

"What If I End Up With Leftovers after that?"

Any leftovers after the shelters and camps are served (which is rare), go into our residential Columbia storage pantry for people who need food or clothes during the week.

➡️  If you need food now, contact us here to
meet with an FNB Volunteer & get fixed up. 

"I've heard some stuff is past the date. Do you really give out Expired Stuff ? "

well...yes, and no.

About Those Vitamin Expiration Dates...

Most of our shares are fresh-this-morning Farmer's Market organics, plus long term shelf-stable items (rice, beans, cans),  but others are a few days past their date  (fresh herbs, breads, sweets etc) but still quite edible. 

Still other items won't expire for years, but their containers are slightly damaged. What's inside is still good though.

This is the nature of donations we get. It's on each individual to decide what they choose to take and consume. 

We do our best to remove spoiled or way-too-old items, but we aren't responsible for your experience. Use your best judgement. 

One Exception — Neutriceuticals, vitamins and food supplements must by United States law, remain at full potency for 2 years past their expiration date.

As retailers cannot by law, sell such supplements once the date has passed, they donate them to Food Not Bombs and our sibling agencies in town, so needy people too, can have the privilege of good health.

These supplements were picked up from refrigerated locations and brought directly to The Corner. You can use these vitamins with confidence, but as with all supplements, keep in the fridge for best results and discard near that 2 year upper limit.